Well, dear readers, I can now share with you our selections for the CLA Book of the Year for Children Award (BOYCA). Fellow judges Kay Weisman, Helen Kubiw, and Myra Junyk, and I gave this year's award to Watching Jimmy, a first novel by Nancy Hartry. Our Honour Books were Vanishing Girl by Shane Peacock, and Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R. J. Anderson (another newcomer). Watching Jimmy, about a brain-damaged young boy (the title character) and his young friend, and the secrets they share, moved me quite deeply. Hartry deftly captured the time period (1950s Canada) in minimalist prose, brilliantly weaving a story about two young single mothers into a story about war, peace, family and health care (Tommy Douglas makes a brief appearance). There, that last bit should pique your interest.
Press release here.
